Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-15
WHITE FLOWER;
OR,
THE COMANCHES DREAM.
A Romance Of Savage Chivalry and
Texan ValOr Ia the Days
of Slavery
BY the Late COL. E. Z. c. j ODsoN
(NED BUNTLIEE.)

for the best man that ever packed 0eCK
o. cards, cut q throat or winged cop
peri"
"Hurrah-hurrah-th three cheers for our
bully csptain!"
The one who FIST spoke was the lieut.
enant of 8 gang CT gamblers: thieves and
Cut-throats, whe hailed Jack Malerson as
their captain, AID those wins with wild
hurrahs echoed his words were the mem
bers Of the gaUg, who were assembled to
welcome their leader back from what he
termed a pleasure trip 10 tie country.
"Thank you, my laCs-thank you
heartily. Though Ive been eff on pTi7ete
account this time I've brought BECK
enough to treat with" And he tossed
down g handful of gold on the tsole.
,s'Cal in the drink, bOys-calIin the drink.
Make yourselves as Jolly as drunken
gang Of JsilOrs till | come back. Eve an
errand that'I take me en- hour or so, and
then I'Il drink with you to your hearts
content"
The place where these men were as
sembled was one Of the few lew and
dangerous dens which may be found i'll
the pretty and enterprising city ct Gal
weston.
In very pretty cottage, withiE sound
of the pleasant dash Of the breakers
which rolled snOwily over the outer bar
and in upon the wnIte beach, sat female
whose age could not be much in advance
of twenty years. Her hair was brow =,
rich and glossy-her complexion so fair
that a freCkle here and there could be
seen amid the red and white of her cheek
and brow-her eyes of q melting blue,
her lips full and entiCiEg, her form rather
slender, but exquisite and vJluptuOus.
Books, magazines and music ley upon
the center table, and 8 guitar rested
against q chair within reach of the lady.
She appeared 10 be in q sleepy, dreamy
humOr, for she leaned back IL an easy
chair beside the table, with her round
chin resting on the palm OF her little
white hand, her small, slippered feet el5-
waited upon q veivet-COVeIed stool and
her eyes half closed.
Startled by q rather heavy knock at the
door, the color flew 10 her cheek and she
half rose as she said: "COme in"
The person VINO entered was none
other than our new acquaintance, JsCk
MarlesOn. That he was a stranger TO the
lady was very evident from the look OF
wonder, not unmiXed with alarm, with
which she received him.
"This is Miss Ada McAlpIn, l believe"
said he.
"That is my name sir" she replied.
"My name is Jack MalersOn, father TO
Paul. You know him well enough" said
he, taking d seat, coolly, without waiting
to be asked.
"I have met Mr.. Paul Malerson, but he
never spoke 10 me of his father!" said
the young beauty, looking rather dis
"D;dn't he! Why, the undutifuI dog.
But | must forgive him-he's my pre-
Cious' only. He sent you down this ring;
It's d sparkler, isn't it?" said MaIerson,
handing her q large and very handsome
diamond ring.
"Wheu and where did you see him,
sir" asked the lady, taking the ring and
looking at it with q glance Of undisguised
pleasure.
81 was up at his uncle's plantation TO
see him. Fine old uncle tha+-rich as
CrRsus-but he's got very pretty
daughter, and Pm afeard they're setting
traps to get Paul to marry her"
"They never shsll-he is mine-mine!"
said the young lady, passiOnately, rising
to her feet, and quivering all over with
excitement
"NOr with my consent; for you are
girl of spirit aRd worth a dozen Of her
l like you," said Malerson.
"WIll you watch over this matter for
me? l love Paul MalersOn, and he has
said that he loved mer' said she, in g win
ming way. And she advanced to put her
soft hand into his rough palm, and looked
into his eyes with such s. beseeChng look
that his bold gaze sottened beneath it like
ice in the sunlight.
81 will, Ada. for I like yOn, though I
nevec before laid eyes on you"
"Thsnk you" said she. "Wiu You
have some wine?" And she rang bell
for q servant.
81 like brandy better-wine Will do for
gentler folks thsnI; but PVe been brought
up in a rough way at sea, and am rough
customer"
''The finest dismons are found in the
toughest COats," she said. And again the
sunlight of her smiles fell upon the rude
shell of his harsh nature.
81 don't wonder that Paul fell in love
with YOU" he said. you've got g very
captivatin' way of your own"
The servant now came in, and the lady
ordered such refreshments as she judged
would best suit Mr.. Jack Malerson, or
Captain Jack, as he liked to be termed.
" and perfectly at home, only pausing
noWand tnen 10 bestGw praise UpCn them
or upon his beautiful hostess.
CHAPTER xI.
On the day succeeding the attack upon
La Bolsa de Flores, Major Ben and his
rangers followed the trall of the retreat
ing red men, but they had got beyond his
reach, carrying sway their dead and
wounded, and also large number of Mr..
Delorme's best horses. The damage
which they mad inflicted upon the planter
was very great, but such, however, as he
could easily repair with the immense
means at his command.
Although Mrs. Delorme begged him TO
remove from position so dangerous, he
stubbOrnly refused, for in ell Texas could |
NOT be found richer land or q more lovely |
situation. And as new settlers would !
inevitably gather around him in the |
course of time the value of his property |
would increase with years. And Mr.. |
DelOrme was stern and resolute man, |
strong In his hste and his love-powerful |
in all his preiudices.
Until this tine he had exhibited dis !
like, rather than g Partially, for Paul |
Malerson: for in truth there was more to |
dislike than to like in the character Of the |
youth-for he was wild, reckless, i'll gov
erned and none too honorable in his ways. |
But he had for MS wife's sake---to whom |
he seemed much attached-bOrne with |
him, and allowed her to supply him with
pocket money from her own most liberal !
allowance.
But since the battle in which Paul ex-
hibited so much bravery and GOODNESS the
manner Of MIR. Delorme changed toward